Ascot Racing Tips: Best bets, expert picks, Lucky 15 multiple selections, Placepot tips

Our experts' best bets

Ben Linfoot: Palace Green – 5.40 Royal Ascot

Richard Hughes’ PALACE GREEN looks the bet in the Golden Gates Handicap over 10 furlongs in the penultimate contest of the meeting. This horse slammed some good horses including subsequent winners Ghostlore and Cambria Legend at Kempton on April 1 and he improved on that good form next time at York. Third in a 1m4f handicap won by Aidan O’Brien’s London City, Palace Green moved into the contest like he might win the race only for his challenge to weaken in the final furlong. Still, he wasn’t beaten far in third and he hinted he might be seen to best effect at a mile and a quarter so this looks the ideal spot for him. The York form also looks good with the second, Align The Stars, and the seventh, Hampden, coming out and finishing first and second at Thirsk subsequently, so it has the look of a hot race. With the horse still part-owned by Qatar Racing Oisin Murphy takes the ride, so everything is in place for the son of Sea The Moon to lay down a big challenge.

Click here for the full Verdict column

Andy McLaren's recommended multiple: Lucky 15

15:05 Ascot – Elegant Man

He’ll probably be a massive price but ELEGANT MAN is worth another chance to prove his effectiveness on turf after a late deluge turned the ground against him in the Tattersalls Gold Cup last time. He’d been hugely impressive at Newcastle prior to that, the fact he was able to win an open handicap from a mark of 108 on just his fourth start despite getting lit up early on marking him out as a potential top-notcher. That effort means he comes out second to only Continuous on the Timeform ratings here and with the potential for an uncontested lead on fast ground, he could take a bit of pegging back.

15:45 Ascot – Believing

BELIEVING ran a cracker in the King Charles III Stakes here on Tuesday, finishing well to take fourth and deserving extra credit too given she fared best of those ridden in the rear half of the field. She will have no trouble going back up to six furlongs, in fact she will probably improve for it, and a repeat of her Tuesday run would see her go close in what looks an open race.

16:25 Ascot – Haatem

Another big money purchase for Wathnan Racing, HAATEM has really kicked on as a three-year-old, winning the Craven on his return before finishing on the tail of Rosallion in the English and Irish Guineas. That form got a significant boost when his stablemate won the St James’s Palace Stakes on Tuesday and there’s nothing of his calibre in this line up.

17:05 Ascot – Unequal Love

As ever, a fiercely competitive renewal of the Wokingham, but if there’s a potential Group horse in here who could blow it apart, then that’s UNEQUAL LOVE. She returned better than ever to win a Listed race at Newmarket before backing that up when fifth in a hot renewal of the Group 2 Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh last time, finishing close up behind the likes of Regional, who was an excellent second in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes here on Tuesday, and Mitbaahy, Art Power and Shouldvebeenaring, who all content the six furlong Group 1 today. A strong traveller in her races, a big-field handicap like this should be right up her street and she could just outclass these.

Timeform race-by-race verdict

5.05 - Wokingham Stakes (Heritage Handicap)

Plenty in with a shout but it could pay to side with ALBASHEER who remains on an attractive mark despite scoring twice this term on the AW at Newcastle and should find this stiff 6f right up his street. Richard Fahey's Strike Red is another who should be suited by conditions and he is next on the list after an encouraging Epsom fifth. Unequal Love and Ferrous both command plenty of respect too, with Glenfinnan completing the shortlist in a typically ultra-competitive Wokingham.

5.40 - Golden Gates (Handicap)

There was a lot to like about the way PRIMO LARA came clear at York last time and he's selected to defy another rise in the weights. The draw could have been kinder to Hand of God but it looks like he's been saved for this since his Esher Cup success so he's still second choice ahead of Palace Green and Approval.

6.15 - Queen Alexandra Stakes (Conditions Race)

The traditional Royal Ascot finale is run over the longest distance in the Flat calendar and it's TASHKHAN who gets the nod to come out on top provided he's ready to roll on return. The main threat may emerge from Queenstown, who has taken his form up a level this season and is Aidan O'Brien's sole representative, while last year's first and third in this Dawn Rising and Run For Oscar can do battle for minor honours in what is a truly unique test.

Suggested Placepot permutation

Leg 1: 14

Leg 2: 2, 4

Leg 3: 5, 8

Leg 4: 12, 14

Leg 5: 9, 16

Leg 6: 7

1 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 1 = 16 lines

More Royal Ascot previews, tips & features

• Matt Brocklebank's Value Bet
• Ben Linfoot's Verdict
• Karl Burke Stable Tour
• Harry Charlton Stable Tour
• Archie Watson Stable Tour
• Richard Hannon Stable Tour
• Dan Briden's Two-Year-Old Guide
• Timeform: Two-Year-Old pecking order
• Handicappers to note
• Royal Ascot Sky Bet Offers
• Latest Royal Ascot Build-A-Bet
• WATCH: The Stewards' Room Podcast

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